AlfaOBD

[CharlieChaplain]

ok, thanks for the info. I thought i saw in the options that the dealer could enable the wifi for a price, as it is a premium option. that must be for the radio to be accessed as a wifi hotspot? I was hoping that the radio could be enabled to access the cellular modem as my old third party radio could do. Now, that would open up some options! that way, we could still use the iHeart radio, and the rest of the apps. Without an internet connection, that all is not able to be used.
Is the FW and OS on the Uconnect proprietary? Or, is it some type of common OS like LINUX?
Charlie

 

[RamDiver]

ok, thanks for the info. I thought i saw in the options that the dealer could enable the wifi for a price, as it is a premium option. that must be for the radio to be accessed as a wifi hotspot?

I have a Wifi options in the Uconnect settings. I will try to remember to get a pic a bit later.
When my truck was new, it included 1 year of SiriusGuardian and, if I'm not mistaken, 1 year of a Wifi hotspot service.

I tried it once, for fun, but mostly never bothered with the Wifi hotspot because I had a good data plan on the phone. If I attempt to use the Wifi hotspot now, it offers to sell me a plan, IIRC.

I was hoping that the radio could be enabled to access the cellular modem as my old third party radio could do. Now, that would open up some options! that way, we could still use the iHeart radio, and the rest of the apps. Without an internet connection, that all is not able to be used.

When you mention this cellular modem, I trust that you're referring to the USB dongle you listed in a previous post.

The Sierra Wireless card, embedded in your Uconnect radio, is most likely a 3G card and of zero use now.

Is the FW and OS on the Uconnect proprietary? Or, is it some type of common OS like LINUX?

Charlie

I'm very confident that the Uconnect uses proprietary software; otherwise, someone would have hacked it by now.


I did find the following in AlfaOBD, but I believe it will be of no use to you, having a 3G Wireless card.




.

 

[CharlieChaplain]

I have a Wifi options in the Uconnect settings. I will try to remember to get a pic a bit later.
When my truck was new, it included 1 year of SiriusGuardian and, if I'm not mistaken, 1 year of a Wifi hotspot service.

I tried it once, for fun, but mostly never bothered with the Wifi hotspot because I had a good data plan on the phone. If I attempt to use the Wifi hotspot now, it offers to sell me a plan, IIRC.




When you mention this cellular modem, I trust that you're referring to the USB dongle you listed in a previous thread.

The Sierra Wireless card, embedded in your Uconnect radio, is most likely a 3G card and of zero use now.




I'm very confident that the Uconnect uses proprietary software; otherwise, someone would have hacked it by now.


I did find the following in AlfaOBD, but I believe it will be of no use to you, having a 3G Wireless card.


View attachment 577899

.

Thanks! I will check that out, when I get the antenna dummy installed. I was hoping the radio had the capability to use WIFI with it connected to the modem, but it must be a hardwired connection, like ethernet, instead of true wifi. It would be cool to access the internet through the home wifi, and do updates through that, like my wife's 2019 Ford Fusion.
Charlie

 

[SitKneelBend]

I have a Wifi options in the Uconnect settings. I will try to remember to get a pic a bit later.
When my truck was new, it included 1 year of SiriusGuardian and, if I'm not mistaken, 1 year of a Wifi hotspot service.

I tried it once, for fun, but mostly never bothered with the Wifi hotspot because I had a good data plan on the phone. If I attempt to use the Wifi hotspot now, it offers to sell me a plan, IIRC.




When you mention this cellular modem, I trust that you're referring to the USB dongle you listed in a previous thread.

The Sierra Wireless card, embedded in your Uconnect radio, is most likely a 3G card and of zero use now.




I'm very confident that the Uconnect uses proprietary software; otherwise, someone would have hacked it by now.


I did find the following in AlfaOBD, but I believe it will be of no use to you, having a 3G Wireless card.


View attachment 577899

.

They were actually hacked early on, fortunately by white hats BUT it was really bad...full control of the entire vehicle.

 

[RamDiver]

They were actually hacked early on, fortunately by white hats BUT it was really bad...full control of the entire vehicle.

IIRC, that was prior to 2018, then came the Security Gateway Module. Does that sound correct?

I wonder if the hacking was an inside job to justify and sell the SGM to the buying public.

.

 

[RamDiver]

Thanks! I will check that out, when I get the antenna dummy installed. I was hoping the radio had the capability to use WIFI with it connected to the modem, but it must be a hardwired connection, like ethernet, instead of true wifi. It would be cool to access the internet through the home wifi, and do updates through that, like my wife's 2019 Ford Fusion.
Charlie

You're most welcome.

I strongly suspect that the Wi-Fi/Hotspot concept with the Uconnect is limited to using the onboard Sierra Wireless card to generate a Wi-Fi signal within the truck for use with a laptop or tablet.

I don't believe the Uconnect Wi-Fi Hotspot can be used to connect the radio to the internet via a cell phone HotSpot or other device.

Keep in mind, this is another money generation idea for Uconnect to sell a Wireless service and make money. Nothing to do with customer convenience.


I found the Uconnect Wi-Fi HotSpot in the Apps section, on the radio in my truck.
Uconnect/Apps/Wi-Fi Hotspot.












I was working on a project to replace the NAV and texting functions with an Android Tablet.
I have an old original Samsung Tab 10.1 that offers free Wireless service anywhere in North America, AFAIK. I tried it out and decided it was too old and too slow.

Then I bought a newer/faster tablet on sale from Amazon and was hoping to use my phone's wireless signal. A few glitches and then distractions have kept me from finishing that project.

All that to say, you could replace most of the Uconnect radio functions with an Android tablet.
I bought this great mounting bracket to fit a tablet in front of the Uconnect radio.

.

 

[SitKneelBend]

IIRC, that was prior to 2018, then came the Security Gateway Module. Does that sound correct?

I wonder if the hacking was an inside job to justify and sell the SGM to the buying public.

.

That is correct, first there was a recall fix ~2016 and then I "think" the SGM was a direct response to it.

Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on a Highway | WIRED

Two hackers have developed a tool that can hijack a Jeep over the internet. WIRED senior writer Andy Greenberg takes the SUV for a spin on the highway while ...

www.youtube.com

 

[Illjustfabit]

Hi all,
Has anyone come across the setting in Alpha OBD to change from Police mode to Civilian?
I know I saw this somewhere while browsing through settings. I'm just curious if it's somethin found an all 5th gen Ram trucks.

 

[18CrewDually]

Hi all,
Has anyone come across the setting in Alpha OBD to change from Police mode to Civilian?
I know I saw this somewhere while browsing through settings. I'm just curious if it's somethin found an all 5th gen Ram trucks.

Its under 2013+ Radio Frequency Hub settings. It is to reverse settings from Police mode which includes things like blackout for interior lighting. Ford has similar functions for their truck/SUVs.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Hi all,
Has anyone come across the setting in Alpha OBD to change from Police mode to Civilian?
I know I saw this somewhere while browsing through settings. I'm just curious if it's somethin found an all 5th gen Ram trucks.

What does "police mode" do?

 

[RamDiver]

What does "police mode" do?

Police Lighting Feature write up

So, played around with the "Police Lighting" feature in AlphaOBD. Here are the details that I've been able to work out with my 2017 RAM Laramie Limited - this may or may not apply to other models or years, and may not cover every feature - these are just the ones I know of: 1) Instrument...

www.ramforum.com

.

 

[16cummins]

Hello everybody, I’m trying to swap to projector headlights in my 2018 5500. I enabled all the options in alfaobd but the drivers side running light still won’t work. Anyone have a fix or heard of this before?

 

[18CrewDually]

Hello everybody, I’m trying to swap to projector headlights in my 2018 5500. I enabled all the options in alfaobd but the drivers side running light still won’t work. Anyone have a fix or heard of this before?

Did you check the bulb? Swap it with the other bulb.

 

[16cummins]

Did you check the bulb? Swap it with the other bulb.

There led on the factory projector headlights you can’t swap the bulbs.

 

[18CrewDually]

There led on the factory projector headlights you can’t swap the bulbs.

Oh ok, the little LED parking lights. First test power at the plug with the switch on. If you're getting power at the plug for parking lights but the LEDs aren't coming on then they are faulty. I haven't heard of anyone trying to replace them or repair the circuit but that usually is not serviceable.
If you bought the lights used, now you know why they were selling them.


We're talking about these, correct?

 

[16cummins]

Oh ok, the little LED parking lights. First test power at the plug with the switch on. If you're getting power at the plug for parking lights but the LEDs aren't coming on then they are faulty. I haven't heard of anyone trying to replace them or repair the circuit but that usually is not serviceable.
If you bought the lights used, now you know why they were selling them.


We're talking about these, correct?

View attachment 579325

My bad I was talking about the strip under the headlight but that light is also not turning on. I’ll try to attach a picture

 

[18CrewDually]

Ok. Same applies for the Turn/parking LED strip. Use a test light on chassis side of harness plug while your turn signal is activated and see if you're getting a pulse. If you are, then the issue is on the headlight side itself (not the truck).

 

[16cummins]

Got around to looking at the truck today. Found the problem
Thanks for the help guys!

 

[18CrewDually]

Got around to looking at the truck today. Found the problem View attachment 579468
Thanks for the help guys!

That'll do it. Glad you found it and thanks for coming back with your findings.

 

[Danno123]

2010 Ram 2500 Laramie - I am trying to add power folding mirrors. I have the correct mirrors, switch and door modules. Activated power fold in alfa. I lost almost all functions from the driver switch. Power windows front only, defrost, memory, mirror adjustment, etc. do not work. When I press the power fold button, only the drivers side folds. i am also getting a communication error from the bcm to both door modules.

I suspect the modules I have are unable to communicate with the bcm.

I am fairly confident that I read a post of someone that enabled power fold on the 2010-2012 models.

Can anyone confirm?

Thanks